Doug Peiffer on Big Blue: A Parable of Modern-Day Migration
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Asia Tabb
Aired; May 8th, 2025.
Paralegal-by-day and debut novelist by night Doug Peiffer joined us on The Spark to discuss his six-year labor of love, Big Blue, “a parable of modern-day migration” that explores the fraught relationship between the United States and Mexico through the eyes of ordinary—and extraordinary—individuals.
Peiffer explains the novels inspiration:
“It was… the first term of President Trump. His desire to build this… ‘beautiful wall’ across the 2,000-mile border, and his trade tensions with Mexico… felt like the perfect backdrop for a story about disrupted movement of people and products.”
At its center is California melon farmer Bill Blythe, whose “decisions… illustrate other larger issues about human nature and its propensity for self-preservation and… greed.” His wealthy farm relies on undocumented labor—reflecting a real-world dependence that stretches far beyond Blythe, California.
But Big Blue is more than a political fable. It’s also a deeply human story of one father’s quest to save his only daughter, Jocelyn, who “has a heart condition… she needs a rare life-saving medical device that only can be found and secured during this time of crisis.” Peiffer’s meticulous research shines through here:
“Writing from Jocelyn’s perspective… was tough… but I hope I address her story in a balanced, fair way.”
The novel’s titular “Big Blue” tree serves as both refuge and symbol:
“It’s a place where many pivotal events happen… it evolves over time into a more spiritual place… bringing into perspective a larger view of the world and our place in it.”
Peiffer’s passion for fictional bridge-building stems from years spent living and teaching abroad:
“I lived in the Middle East… taught English to Arab-speaking students… even helped Sudanese refugees known as the Lost Boys. It excites me to encourage others to look at things from the perspectives of others in a more fair and balanced way.”
With Big Blue now on shelves, Peiffer hopes readers will find themselves in its pages—and then carry those insights into their own communities:
“I hope people find themselves… and perhaps are challenged to change some of their perspectives… and encourage others to do the same.”
